Mark Zuckerberg complains about Apple to employees about iPhone maker not taking responsibility upon themselves; says: They don't have anyone…
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took aim at Apple in an internal email to top executives, complaining that the iPhone maker faces far less scrutiny on child safety issues despite doing far less about them. The 2021 email, now unsealed as part of a New Mexico lawsuit against Meta, shows Zuckerberg arguing that Apple's hands-off approach has "worked surprisingly well for them."
"Apple, for example, doesn't seem to study any of this stuff. As far as I understand, they don't have anyone reviewing or moderating content and don't even have a report flow in iMessage," Zuckerberg wrote to executives including then-COO Sheryl Sandberg and head of global affairs Nick Clegg.
Zuckerberg's email came a day after damning Instagram research went publicThe email, dated September 15, 2021, landed in inboxes just one day after The Wall Street Journal published findings from Meta's own internal research. That research, leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen , revealed that 32 percent of teen girls said Instagram made them feel worse about their bodies. The subject line read: "Social issue research and analytics — privileged and confidential."
Rather than address the findings head-on, Zuckerberg questioned whether Meta should change how it studies its platforms' harms altogether. He argued that companies like Apple, YouTube, and Snap face less heat simply because they don't investigate their own impact as thoroughly.
"I think we should be commended for the work we do to study, understand, and improve social issues on our platforms," Zuckerberg wrote, adding that media coverage tends to weaponise internal research rather than credit Meta for doing the work.
Apple and Meta are already locked in a lobbying war over child safetyThe email adds fresh context to the ongoing clash between the two tech giants over who should be responsible for protecting kids online. Meta has been pushing for laws that require app stores like Apple's to verify users' ages, while Apple argues individual apps should handle age checks themselves. At least three US states have already passed legislation siding with Meta's position, with more expected to follow.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the company "is proud of our continued commitment to doing transparent, industry-leading research."
"Apple, for example, doesn't seem to study any of this stuff. As far as I understand, they don't have anyone reviewing or moderating content and don't even have a report flow in iMessage," Zuckerberg wrote to executives including then-COO Sheryl Sandberg and head of global affairs Nick Clegg.
Zuckerberg's email came a day after damning Instagram research went publicThe email, dated September 15, 2021, landed in inboxes just one day after The Wall Street Journal published findings from Meta's own internal research. That research, leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen , revealed that 32 percent of teen girls said Instagram made them feel worse about their bodies. The subject line read: "Social issue research and analytics — privileged and confidential."
Rather than address the findings head-on, Zuckerberg questioned whether Meta should change how it studies its platforms' harms altogether. He argued that companies like Apple, YouTube, and Snap face less heat simply because they don't investigate their own impact as thoroughly.
"I think we should be commended for the work we do to study, understand, and improve social issues on our platforms," Zuckerberg wrote, adding that media coverage tends to weaponise internal research rather than credit Meta for doing the work.
Apple and Meta are already locked in a lobbying war over child safetyThe email adds fresh context to the ongoing clash between the two tech giants over who should be responsible for protecting kids online. Meta has been pushing for laws that require app stores like Apple's to verify users' ages, while Apple argues individual apps should handle age checks themselves. At least three US states have already passed legislation siding with Meta's position, with more expected to follow.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the company "is proud of our continued commitment to doing transparent, industry-leading research."
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